AN 



TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH. 

WITH SOME REFLECTIONS, 

SHOWING THE 

BENEFITS OF THE TRADE 

OF THE 

BLACK SEA 

TO THE 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

AND THE 

ADVANTAGES 

or A 

COMMMERCIAL TREATY 

WITH 

TURKEY. 

BY AN AMERICAN: 

^HO HAS HAD AN OPFORTUNITT OF BEINa CONVERSANT TTITt^ 

THE FACTS HEREIN RELATED, AND EMBRACES 

THIS MODE TO MAKE THEM KNOWN 

TO HIS FELLOV-CITieENS. 



5=5» 



:i NEWPORT: 
j^RXNTED BT WILLIAM SIMON$i 
1819. 



AN ACCOUNT OF ODESSA. 



MORE than three hundred years have rolled aw'ay, since 
the Turks became masters of the Black Sea, and until within 
a short period have remained its exclusive possessors. 

Commerce, which in remote times, spread its benefits a- 
mong those countries, was, at that epoch, driven from thence ; 
continual wars, the most despotic of governments, and the 
licensed pillage of its officers, diminished population and de- 
stroyed agriculture ; nothing now was seen on the northern 
shores of the Black Sea, but wandering banditti. 

Peter the first, determining to civilize his empire. Galled 
commerce to his assistance ; ha>'ing succeeded in his estab- 
lishments on the Baltic, he wi^ to make similar ones on 
the Euxine, but adverse occmrences prevented ; scarcely 
was he enabled to preserve Taganrok, in the sea of Asof. 

It was reserved tor Catharine the second to realize these 
projects by conquest, and for Alexander, by his wisdom, 
his moderation, and his justice in governing, to place these 
provinces in then* present flourishing and liappy condition. 
Previous to the conquest of those countries, which now com- 
prise what is commonly called New Russia, solitude and 
sterility reigned over these immense plains, now populous 
and fertile : these extensive tracts, now abounding with pro- 
ductions of the first necessity, were then occupied by hordes 
of wandering Tartars, who were obliged to roam from place 
to place, in order to find occasional pillage and pasture, 
wherewith to support themselves, their horses and their oxen. 

The treaty of Kainardjy, 21st July, 1774, began the hap- 
py change. By a condition of this treaty, and the explica- 
tive convention in 1779, Russian ships were permitted freely 
to navigate the Black Sea ; to enter and return through the 
passage of the Dardanelles. Russia having no port to profit 
by this advantage, chose one on the Dnieper, where she might 
establish commerce and a military marine, which she intend- 
ed fi-om henceforth to have in the Euxine sea. In conse- 
quence of this arrangement, the town of Kherson [Cherson] 
was commenced in 1778, on the right bank of that river, at 



seventeen leagues from its mouth. The Empress granted 
many privileges to this establishment, which drew thither a 
concourse of strangers and a considerable c«>mmerce. Its 
commercial relations beginning with Constantinople and the 
Archipelago, extended to Marseilles, Leghorn, Trieste and 
other places. The articles of importation and exportation 
were the same as are now comprised in the commerce of 
Odessa. The productions of the interior, for the most part, 
descended the Dnieper in boats of the country ; and foreign 
vessels of easy draft, ascended thiii river as far as Kherson, 
those drawing more than six feet, were obliged to stop and 
discharge part of their cargoes at Gloubow, a village six 
leagues below. From the month of October until March, 
this river is much obstructed by the ice, the breaking up of 
which is frequently dangerous, so that commerce could only 
be safely carried on itt seven months in the year. To these 
evils were added others, particularly the insalubrity of the 
air at Kherson. Owing to these circumstances, it was pro- 
posed to make another choice, which at that period was im- 
possible, on account of the political state of the country. 

However the commerce of Cherson daily increased. The 
commercial treaty concluded between Russia and Turkey 
on the 10th June, 1783, consohdated its success and prepar- 
ed additional advantages ; for now was it known that Austria 
had obtained like favors from the Porte, as by the treaty of 
24th February, 1784, Austrian ships were assimilated with 
those of Russia, in the free navigation of the Black Sea. 

Commerce now took rapid strides ; already more than 200 
vessels were eniployed, Austrian and Russian, in the trade 
of Galatz by the Danube, of Kherson by the Dnieper, and 
even of Caffa, now become the possession of Russia, by the 
cession of the whole of the Crimea, which Kham Chahim 
Gueray made in 1783 to the Empress, with the approbation 
of the Porte. But the war of 1787, between this latter power 
and the tv.'o imperial courts, paralyzed this growing lom- 
merce. Peace concluded between the Porte and Austria, 
27th July, 1790, restored something of its incipient vigor; 
but it was not until after the conclusion of the war with Rus- 
sia, in 1792, that this restoration could be considered as per. 
manent, and tending to that degree of prosperity it has at 
present attained By this treaty of Peace, Russia extended 
her frontiers from tlie Bog to the Niester ; the year following 



I 



a 

she acquired by tne last partition of Poland, those provinces, 
vvliich are nearest the Black Sea. 

In this new state of affairs, the inconveniences of Kherscji 
presented themselves with peculiar force, and the acqirLsirioii 
of so many fertile provinces in Poland, required a dcbouc/,'6 
for their productions more immediate than that of Kherson. 

The bay of a Tartarian village called Kodjjbe}^ was. 
deemed eligible for this purpose. This bay is situate 'm 
lat. 46, 35, north, long. 29, 2, east, from Paris, bet\veei> 
the Dnieper and the Niester. All its possessions at this 
time consisted of a small Tartar fort, and a few miserable 
huts ; but the bay had, from time immemorial, proved a se- 
cure haven to winter in, for vessels navigating these waters. 

This new establishment, occupying the continual solicitude 
of the Empress, she gave it, in 1796, the name of Odessa, 
conferring on it privileges which attracted population and a 
flourishing trade. 

From the death of the Empress, in 1 796, until the acces 
sion of Alexander, neither circumstances, nor perliaps ihe 
views, nor the means of government \^•cre favorable to the 
progre::i of Odessa ; on the contrary it was making retro- 
gade steps. 

The treaty of Luneville, giving |>eace to the Continent 
Alexander the first ascended the throne of the Russias— ^ 
shortly after the existing differences between that empire; 
and England terminated, and her commercial relations wi'.k 
France were reestablished by the treat}' of 8th Oct. 1801. 
The treaty of Amiens, concluded the beginning of the subse- 
quent year, was followed by that of France with the Poite, 
by which French vessels were assimilated v.ith those of the 
most favored nations in Tu/key, and obtained in consequence, 
the liberty of a free navigation in the Black Sea. 

Shortly afterwards, the English, the Russians, Neapoli- 
tans, Ragusans, Dutch and the l>epublic of the Seven Is- 
lands, obtained the same privilege. This memorable epoch 
freed the Euxine, in a great degree from the dominion of 
the Turks ; it became the common domain of the Nations oi' 
Europe, and Odessa the centre of vast speculations. 

The Russian Government, occupying itself, with success 
and with a paternal solicitude, watched over this rising coun- 
try, and encouraged its commercial prosperity, by graining 
particular! V to Odessa, many important privileges, and \\\ 



6* 

1803, his F].xcellency the Dake dc Richelieu was appointed 
Governor General with extensive powers. 

This year 900 vessels entered the Black Sea, 536 of which 
came to Odessa ; these vessels were chiefly in ballast, many 
however brought various goods of Spain, France, Italy and 
of the Levant. Their return cargoes consisted entirely 
of wheat, which was at that time, the only article demanded 
and the only one which could then be furnished, the city not 
having established her present commercial relations with the 
interior of the Empire. This wheat was supplied by the 
Governments of Podolia, Vohlinia, Kiow, and by that of 
Khersen, the three first transporting it by land, the latter by 
i:(3ats, which descending the Dnieper, deUvered their cargoes 
in the roads of Odessa. 

A like mass of affairs must suppose a population consid- 
erable; in 1803 it exceeded 8,000 souls, but the city was 
liot more than modelled ; there were only afew houses, badly 
l)uilt and incommodious, hardly a good warehouse, for the 
storage of merchandize, no public establishments, very im- 
j,^Tfect quarantine regulations, and only a single mole or 
wlrarf, which feebly sheltered ships irom the S.E. winds fre- 
qiiontly dangerous. 

Government enlightened in its views, powerfully aided 
Odessa. — Having already granted a revenue in allowing it, 
tlie profits of forming die manufacture of brandy, for its own 
consumption, as T«ell as granting it the tenth of its Custom- 
liouse Revenues — New funds were assigned, in order to 
meet contingent exjx^nces, and furthermore a certain sum 
placed in the hands of a Committee of Administration, to 
>oan it, at an interest of six per cent, per annum, to those of- 
iis inhabitants who would employ it >n building. In conse- 
queiice of this facility and a growing commerce, the city be- 
t;:mie instantly improved ; commodious dwellings and ware- 
houses were erected, a laz iretto and new mole were added, 
foundations of a Russian Cathedral and of a Catholic church 
were begun, a Theatre, and in general all those establish- 
ments and edifices, which now completed, rank Odessa with 
other European cities. The environs attracted at the same 
time, the attention of Administration; in establishiiig many 
colonies of Bulgarians, Hungarians, Sclavonians and Gery ' 
mans, who abandoning their own countries, sought one in'^ 
New Russia, Those who were agricukuribts were distrib- 



uted in the country, forming each their respective villages. 
The artisans were established in the city. Jn order to ameli- 
orate the condition of these new comers, who were for the 
most part destitute of means, advances in cattle and in^ple- 
ments of husbandry, were made to the one class ; and houses 
and work shops were provided for the other. The value o^ 
these advances were to revert to government in twenty years, 
to commence from the tenth year of the arrival of each in- 
habitant. . 

War, suddenly breaking out in 1803, between France and 
England, surprized administration, in the midst of its im- 
portant labors ; its zeal was however not discouraged and its 
intelligence suggested with reason, that the navigation of 
neutrals, the interest and tht; necessities of Europe, would 
give great activity to the commerce of Odessa. Jn 1804, 
this predication was realized ; the wars in Italy, the troubles 
in Egypt and along the coast of Barbary, the prohibitions 
against the exportation of wheat from Hungary, had drained, 
and shut up the granaries of Europe, and it was only through 
this mart that her wants could be supplied ; and this yc^- 
449 vessels loaded there, with that article, which was paid 
for, half in merchandise and half in ready money. Expe- 
ditions in wheat made in 1804 to Spain and other countries, 
having paid a medium profit of eighty per centum, largei 
operations were entered into in 1805, daring which year 
there anived 643 vessels. — In 180$, political circumstances 
becoming unfavourable to the navigation of neutrals, the 
commercial relations of this port, with the rest of Europe 
experienced a depression ; in effect this year, only 279 ves- 
sels entered — but the commerce of tlie Levant, exempt 
from these obstacles, and by this new vent regaining what 
it lost by the political difficulties of the OA^man Empire, 
gave new extension to its relations with Odessa ; which hav- 
ing become the centre of a numerous population, offered a 
considerable opening for the sale of different merchandise^ 
and for those of the Levant in particular. 

Towards the close of this year, commerce felt the rupture 
between Turkey and Russia, which broke out soon after 
into an open war, and suspended all foreign relations ; the 
occupation of Moldavia and Wallachia by Russian troops, 
opened a new field of speculation, whilst in another maimer. 
the commerce of Odessja> recoycrcd from its momentary in 



8 



ar^tion, by the high prices obtained for its importations, ware 
housed before and during the war, and from the low rates, at 
which the productions of the country were procurable. 

The treaty of Tilsit causing an armistice between Russia 
and Turkey, by which means in September 1807, many 
expeditions were entered into, and shipments of wheat &:c. 
made to Constantinople, returns of which were received in 
various articles of importation. 

The season particularly favored this new branch of com- 
merce, during the three last months ot this year, navigation 
was as secure in this sea, as in the summer ; tl^e amount of 
exports and imports might be estimated at three millions of 
rubles. War and the consequent suspension of all commer- 
cial relations between the two countries, caused a mutual re- 
ciprocity of wants; Turkey particularly, deprived of the tallow, 
butter, wheat, &c. w hich had been formerly furnished her by^ 
Moldavia and VVallachia, was in extreme need of these 
commodities ; the wheats of the Morea could not arrive at 
Constantinople, on account of the blockade of the Dardanelles 
— the commerce of Kgypt was cut off. — Anarchy reigned 
over Anatolia ! These powerful causes added to many others, 
reduced Constantinople, Smyrna and other places of the Le- 
vant, to tiie necessity of depending, as their last resource, upon 
he R ussian coasts of the Black Sea, for their supplies. Thus 
was the year 1808 rendered brilliant for commerce to Odes- 
sa ; this city alone received and despatched 399 ships, which 
furnished her with articles of the Levant, amounting to six 
millions of rubles for consumption and about ten millions en- 
tered for transit. It is computed that her exportations this 
year, were nearly six millions, in Russian productions, such 
as wheat, butt^ tallow candles, cai)iar (spawn or roes of stur- 
geon made infPcakes of an inch thick and about a hand's 
breadih, salted and dried in the Sun, a great article of food} 
imd various other articles hitherto unknown as exports. 

The very circumstances, that paralysed commerce else- 
w here, this year, acted upon Odessa in an inverse ratio, by 
opening a new branch of trade, the transit of Cottons and 
other merchandize from Europe, by the Levant, through it 
to Brody, Vienna, &c. Sec. and 'Dies 'uersa. At this epoch 
could one of the primitive inhabitants of this country, one of 
those wandering Tartars, who twenty years before roamed 
through the deserts of Bessarabia ; could he have been sud- 



n 



uenly transported, iiito the midst of this cit}', witnessing tfe 
public and private prosperity, die elegance and irrandeur of 
snrrounding objects, he could not be n^.ade to btiievt he 
\vas not viewing, works of enchantment, Tl-c: pc puiation 
at this time, 1812, of Odessa is 25,000 souls, the births are 
ai'ter a ratio of one for every thirty, each year ; the environs 
for twenty leagues contain an additional population of 30,000, 
comprising thirty-five or forty villages ;. these furnish the 
city with all its vegetables, fruits, &c. and also many articles 
of Commerce, such as butter, tallow, wool and Upwards of 
100,000 tchetverts of hard wheat, also beans, peas^ potatoes, 
&c. Sec. The present population (1818) is 40,000 and the 
environs are supposed to comprize an addition of 60,000 to 
that number ; 1000 large ships annually load at the single 
port of Odessa and with wheat alone— these ships are prin- 
cipally Greek, although many Imperial, Prussian, English 
and French ships now obtain freights for tl^ Mediterranean 
and peninsular ports. 

"1 he air of Odessa is sharp and wholesome ; the streets are. 
wide and laid out at right angles ; all the houses are built of 
stone, from two to three stories high, and after the Euro- 
pean style. . . 

The cultivation of the mulberry tree has attained to a per- 
fection which has already been productive to the proprietors. 
The attention paid to the wool trade has been so great, that 
one of the two establishments, twenty versts from the City„ . 
has eng^iged to furnish, in the course of t\vo years 3000 
Merino rams, which the government are to distribute to div- 
vers proprietors, granting ihem facilities for the payment. In 
the city the pubhc Works, the Lazaretto, the Mole, &.c. are 
iinishfd, and for the last three years the Public Seminary 
lias been in operation, which besides its public course of les- 
sons to day scholars, contains a particular branch for the in- 
struction of seventy -five Pensionnnires, (boarding scholars.) 
The study of the national and foreign languages, the arts and 
jxiences, history and belles-lettres, comprise the plan of ed- 
ucation. 

For tvyoyegrs past there had been a provinsional theatre* 
where performances were executed in the Hussian, Polish and 
German languages ; a regular theatre is now finished upon a 
very fine plan. Humanity requiring an Hospital, one was 
built a year bince. And while ireful attainments have been 
2 



i6 

^^tcncled to, those of ornament and art have not been neg-^ 
Iccted. Trees have been planted in the streets and squares, 
side- walks for foot passengers have been constructed, and 
groiwid has been purchased by Government, for a public 
Botanical Garden and promenade. 

COMMKRCE OF ODESSA. 

In ordinary times, Odessa imports Rom Spain her fine 
wines, such as Malaga, Alicante, Sherry, and some hundred 
pipes of common red wines. The wines of Porto and of 
Madeira, particulirly are in great estimation and meet with 
ready sales, and in considerable quantities. 

France furnishes her through Marseillc-s with wines of vari- 
ous qualities in casks and bottles, with red wines under the 
jiame of Bordeaux, in oxofs of two hundred and forty bottles, 
as also those of Lun-jl and Frontignac and other sweet wines, 
although these latter are not demanded in such quantities a* 
the dry wines. 

These wines find very consnderable \cnt, and at advanta- 
geous prices ; they are consumed all over New Russia and 
Russian Poland ; and many parcels find their w^ay, even to 
Moscow, where they come into competition with those des- 
patched from Riga and St. Petersburgh. It is easily fore- 
•eeu that the Black Sea, will ere long deprive the Bahicof 
this branch of its trade. Salt provisions, liqueurs, fine oils, 
vinegar, mustard, chocolate, porcelain, fine linens, snufi', 
cabinet wares, glass, silk stuffs, and generally those manufac- 
tured goods of fashionable use in France, find ready sales. 
Brandies are inadmissible. Colonial arti«les wanted arc 
sugar, pepper, rum, indigo, coffee, &c. &cc. &c. Italy, 
furnishes Sicilian wines, liqueurs, syrups, Lucca oil, lemon 
juice, oranges, lemons, Parmesan cheese ; silk and velvet 
stiiffe fiom Florence and Genoa. 

LEVANT. 

The importation of articles from the Lcyant is much 
greater and more various, than from all the other countries 
together. Odessa receives from thence large quantities of red 
«nd while wines, ordinary and fine, all in pipes or barrels ; 
lliose most esteemed and of the greatest consumption arc 
loaded in the sea of Marmora, such as the wines called Alon- 
ski ami those of IJodosto. Those which come from the Ar- 
chipelago, such as of Tenedo-. Santorini of Sera, Ihe Mus- 
cat wliie of ISamos, tiiose of Smyrna, of Cyprus. 



n 



li 

vcsi-a oi i mo and tiic v. jiiCs of the O'.her i^iia.i^^o m tiie Ar- 
chijxiago are less iiu demand. The Levant furnishes also, 
in great quantities, fine and common oils, lcn)on juice, bek- 
mis (a sort of grape) dry fruits, such as figs, raisins, almonds, 
dates, also green and bkck olives, oranges ajid lemons, raw 
and spun silks, Smyrna cottons, white and^xed, m trie raw and 
manufactured state, spunges. Mocha coiiee, tobacco, snuff, 
myrrh, frankincense, aloes, gums, nutgalls:, drugs and medi- 
cines, saiTron, Cashmere and Bagdad shawls, I'urkish raan- 
ufectures, pearls, amber, and an infinity of other articles. 
ANATOLIA.. 

The northern parts of Anatolia, have commercial relations 
also with Odessa, by Sinope, Karasoundar and Trebisonde, 
furnishing dry fruits, figs and raisins, nuts of various kinds, 
Nardeck, the juice of the pomegranate, of which brandy is 
made, dye-woods, and a red wood similar to m.ahogany, of 
which furniture is made ; nlso boxwood In 1808, cottons 
were sent from ther.ce to Odessa. 

These articles comprise the cargoes of five or six vessels, 
which annually carry on this trrde.\ In consulting the geo- 
graphical situatipn of this part of Anatolia and the products 
of its interior provinces, it is perceivable that in cas-e its po- 
litical situation should become more favorable to trade, the 
commercial relations between these countries would assume 
more extended and important views : And the port of Sinope 
might become more advantageous than Smyrna itself, which 
now carries on this commerce with the interior, by means of 
a long and expensive land carriage. 

MOLDAVIA, WALL^CHIA AND ROMELIA; 

Moldavia and Wall^chia, furnish in large quantities white 
and red wines, which arrive by land — Romelia supplies also 
yearly five or six small vessels, v/hich load at Zoopoli, in the 
gulf of Pharos in the black sea. When these provinces arc 
tranquil, Odessa receives the oils of the Levant, which come 
by sea to Enos, in the gulf of Saros, ascend the Maritza irj 
batteaux, as far as Adrianople, and from thence are trans- 
ported by land, across Bulgaria, Wallachia and Bessarabia ; 
considerable quantities of cotton come also frojn Salonica, 
arrive at Doubasaar upon the Dniester, at one hundred and 
fifty versts distant, from whence tl-kev pass into the interior. 
HUNGARY. 

Ilungary furnislies annually fine nnd common wines, 



ISi 

tfiough in small quantities, they come by land, or by the 
Danube from Galatz. 

GERMANY. 

Odessa is furnished by Gerniany with cloths acd other 
manufactured stuffs, various articles of fashion, Hardware, 
jewellery and other commodities, which are purchased at the 
fairs of Leipsic, and transported by land, passing through 
Brody and sometimes Jassy , when Moldavia is occupied by 
the Russian armies. 

DANUBE. 

When political events shall one day, submit the whole 
^oarse of this superb river tu European powers, Odessa will 
cap immense advantages ; the productions of all Germany, 
of Italy and of France, will from Uim, directly appear in her 
v/aters. The wines of Tokay and its environs descending 
the Teiss, as far as the Danube, and from thence, reaching 
the Euxine, will be distributed throughout all Poland, New 
Prussia acid to tho^e countries, whicn now receive diepi un- 
der the charges of a long transportation by land. It will be 
perceived that if the continental commerce of Europe with 
Ash, should acquire all that unfolding of which it is suscep- 
tible, the Danube is the connecting communication which 
lY^javfi has given, and Odessa will then become the grand 
entrepot of her various and bountiful productions. Com- 
nicrce having civilized the world, peopled deserts, and made 
even the immensity of Oceans subservient to her calcula- 
tions, will at no distant period cause this river to flow in 
oi:*edlence to her purposes, winch for the space of one hun- 
dred and eighty leagues, is now submissive to the Turk, 
who^e barbarous policy, seems to offer him as an easy coq. 
qut\s*. 

Upon reception of nr^erchandizes imported, those of the 
L<ivant perform a quarantine longer or shorter, according 
10 thv. nature of the commodities and other circumstances ; 
ailer vvhich chey are put into warehouses of the consignee. 
The J eiail dealers purchivse for the town consumption and for 
rhat Of" its eiivirons ; the merchants of the interior make jjur- 
' :!i;ihes of greater or lesser quantities conformably to the dc- 
rrrand, which they send by kmd to Moscow, the general 
centre of commerce of the Empire, or to other cities in the 
raterior, where they are disposed of at the numerous fairs, 
and partici;larly that of Makariew, the most famous, m tfce' 



13 

district of the Governi-ncnt of NiJge Gored, where there h 
on annual business of from fdteen to twenty millioiis of xUf 
bies. 

EXPORTS. 

In the present situation in which Odessa finds herself, she. 
can export generally all the productions of Hu&sia, which are 
now shipt from the ports of the Baltic, and with more ad- 
vantage to the East and South of Europe. The articles of 
export in i^reat quantities are, wheats, hard and soft, beans, 
peas, butter of Siberia, caviar, yellow and white tallow, can- 
dles, lines and twines, cordage, tarred and untarred, of all di- 
mensions, iron in bars, red leather, gold thread from the fa- 
brics of Moscow, peltry, sailcloth of every description, beg^ 
ging, nails, harc^w^re of Toula, window glass and other giaj-s 
vvares. 

The articles of export in lesser quantities are, starch, pitch, 
tar, hemp, flax, white and yellow Wax, waxlights, horse 
hair, raw and boiled, merino and comn)ou wool, honey, pot- 
ashes, rhubarb from China and Siberia, Russian soap, tobac- 
co in leaves from the Ukraii:ie cind Peclolia, salted beef and 
pork, flaxseecj, hen/pseed, juniper berries, mats and a va- 
riety of other articles of minor importance. 

A great proportion of these articles are brought by land, 
from different distances in the interior by waggons. The 
wheat from fifteen to ei«:lv.cen hundred versts descend the 
Dnieper in batteaux. 'I'he iron, butter of Siberia, and the 
caviar come bv water from I'aganrok. 

TKAN'SiT AND POHT OF DEPOSIT. 

The Russian Government well understanding the advair, 
tages of the i<ituation of Odessa for commercial purposes ; 
by an ukase of 5th May, 1804, permitted the importation qT 
nil foreign iperchandises in transit, subject to certain regula- 
tions. The increase of this trade in 18C8, dictated the adop- 
tion of farther facilities, for its prosecution, ad interim — when 
the arrival of the imperial ukase of 26th October, 1808, re- 
moved at once all difficulties, making the port free of all 
diities and taxes whatsoever; not to take full effect, how- 
.ever, until 1820. 

The goods in transit arriving at Odess:', perform a quaf- 
amine, after which, it is permitted the oieichiiiit to take them 
to his ov/n warehouse, and to despatch tlvnn according to his 
pleasure, under the s^rvei/lance of the cubtoni'liousc. Mcr- 



14 

chandi se declared in transit is IVce of all and every duty-^-such 
goods as are not prohibited, may be sold for consumption, 
p.nd those that are to be despatched into the interior, a simple 
declaration at the custOiTi-lioiise is to be made and the df^ty 
paid agreeably to th6 tarilf. A merchant of Odessa, stating 
the advantages of the foreign trade and that of the transit of 
his port, writes— 

'* We have already had an evjdent proof of this ; in 1810 
the American ship Cahimet, Capt. Holmes, under the di- 
rection of Mr. Charles Greene, supercargo, arrived at Odessa, 
from Boiton, for the purpose of loading with Russian pro- 
duce, and others would doubtless have arrived, tl^e samq 
yc^iV, had not the Turki:i^i Government shut the passage of 
the Dardanelles to neutrals, on account of the war." 
TRANSPORTATION. 

Land carriage is much resorted to and is found to be sure 
and not expensive — there are persons established in the city, 
who contract for these purposes aixl are responsible for the 
safety of property confided to them. From Odessa to Mos- 
cow the journry is from thirty-five to forty days, according:: 
to the season, and the price of transportation from one am; 
a half to three rabies the pond, (forty pounds) payable a par 
in advance and the remainder when tlie Goods are delivered 

Malaga, IGth March, 1818. 

From the foregoing account ol Odessa, and the tradi 
"WJVich may be carried on by the United States, in the Black 
Sea, with that and other Russian ports in those waters, it ii? 
^'cry evident that our commercial relations with the Russian 
Kmp're are \x^ry important and may be extended to mutual 
advantage. Nearly all the commercial publications, that fall 
in our way, are full and explicit, in favor of an extension and 
careful cultivation of our intercourse with Russia; and the 
arguments adduced by the most of them, are clear and con- 
clusive, and are calculated to lead the merchants of this coui»- 
try to impro\x* these advantages and to seek out new aven- 
ues and sources af trade, during the present general stagna- 
tion, when the world being at peace, eacli ivuion performs 
her own affairs in her own way, and eacli is in a situation tc 
carry its oVi^n productions to the other, and take in return 
what it requires, in its own vessels. These remarks are s^ 
true and so v;cll known, that it is useless to dwell upon the 



15 

suljject, and the deductions to be drawn from them, are so 
striking and apparer-t, that they spontaiit'ously cW-i ^icni-- 
selves to every inind, without refiection. It isthereloie un- 
necessary to devote any time to these ccnsiden'iTinris. 

The trade of the United States of America, wiih Russia, 
being allowed to be productive of advantai^e and capi.ble of 
extension, appearing to be generally acknowledged ; \i then, 
this extension can be obtained, and these advantages increas- 
ed, by any mode honorable, and in itself also, ccnnprislnij 
other advantages, to this country, it is presumable that such 
an object would receive the attention of the Government vtA 
the sanction of the community. From a perusal of the 
translation upon Odessa, and the trade of the Black J^ea, it is 
very perceivable, that in order for this country to avail her- 
self of the advantages held out to her, it is necessary she 
should form a connViercial treaty with Turkey, as the Grand 
Siguier, reserves to himsell the power of preventing the en- 
trance to the Euxine, by the passage of the Dardiinelles, of 
all those Hags n£>t acknowledged by the Sublime Porte; and 
strange to relate, the American stars and stripes are the only 
Insignia of National Greainess, wioficially known to him— ^ 
and remain so, even in thi;> day of enterprise and in this en- 
lightened age^ — this he the more wonders at, a^. he has ob- 
served, our emblems being siniilar to his, as nearly as stars^ 
ean be to the crescent— -he ii»:agines our religion may in 
some degree, comport with his own. It is unnecessary to 
state, that the only cause of the non reeognisance of our flag, 
is that the Government has not yet thought fit to send a 
Minister to the Porte. 

It is remarkable the surprise expressed by the Greeks, 
who comprise the i^r greater part of the meicantile p( pula- 
tion of the Turkish Empire in Europe and in Asia» u hen 
iliey see an Aniericau in their country or elsewliere, that our 
Government have not sent an Embassy to Turkey. We 
meet, say they, your vessels in Trieste, Marseilles. Genoa, 
Leghorn, at Cadiz, in Lisbon and in England — and while 
Austria, France, Italy, SpL^in, Portugal and G:eat Britain 
have all their respective Ambassadors in Turkey ; and you, 
having such great commercial relations with all these coun- 
tries, have no resident miinisterat Constaiitinople — also your 
trade with Smyrna is very considerable, and \\^ do not know 
as you have any acknowledged Consul there, your country- 



1.6 

men who visit that place, i^enerally putting thembclves iifi*- 
d^r the protection pi' the English Consul. In addition you 
have Consuls at Algiers, in Tunis and at Tripoli, and as 
tliese Govern^tents are ail subservit-nt in a greater or lesser 
degree to the Grand Signior, we much wonder, that yoii 
should not have a Minister at Constantinople.' If in reply 
it should be advanced, that the Government of the United 
States of America, being purely republican and not caring 
to submit to the custom required by the Grand Signior, of 
iTiaking presents, previous to the reception of an Ambassa- 
dor, they directly reply that the amount required would be 
small indeed, in comparison w^ilh the advantages, that an ac- 
knowledgment ()f the flag u'ould give to pur trade in these 
countries ; and if the argument be carried still further and 
the principle objected to, the retort immediatel}^ is, that Eng^ 
land, and France in a particular manner, through all the 
changes of lier Government, whether Republican, Imperial, 
or Regal, has always seen fit to comply with this custom, 
and has reaped great advantages thereby; In addition,' say 
they, from you, it would not be so rigidly adhered to, and 
would in fact only be ei^pectcd in the first instance, and even 
then not considered as a right, but received merely as a 
compliment. It should be noticed, that these observations 
coming from these people, the Greeks, who havinsj nocoun* 
try of their own. and being at the same lime intelligent men^ 
at least as regards commerce, are worthy of serious consid- 
eration; and must be allowed to have weight and impartiality 
on their side, proceeding as they do, from a source perfectly 
disinterested. In fact the very circumstance of our remain- 
ing as we are, is more to their advantage, as the change 
v.'hich they imagine ought for cur in /.rest to take places- 
would be to them an injury, as it would doubtless deprive 
them of a portion of a very advantageous carrying trade 
which they now enjoy, in bringing wheat, &c. from the 
Black Sea to the v^rious Italian. French, and Spanish port^ 
in the Mediterranean, to Gibraltar, Portugc^l &c. &c. 

As the United States of America coni prize such a vast 
extent of territory, and their productions aie so various, and 
particularly as many of them are so sinular to those of the 
Russian empire, it may be imagined; that this trade may 
not only, not prove beneficial, bui even be disadvantageous, 
to the Southern and \Vei,tern Sectio.ns eft lie Union ; but a 



17 

moments reflection, it is presumed, will show this idea to bt 
erroneous. All the ^vheat now grown, or that can be rais- 
ed on the borders of the Kuxine, and in the interior provin- 
ce<, is and will be carried to the respective markets in Eu» 
rope, when demanded, and if the carrying of that commodity 
should be participated, by the vessels of the United States, 
it cannot, while benefitting some of these states, in the re- 
motest degree injure any. A consideration of great im- 
portance to this country generally, and in a particular manner 
to the south and west divisions, is the transit trade ; which 
may be carried on through Odessa, it being a free port, fi om 
thence through Brody to Vienna,all Germany, and to France. 
This as a vent for our cottons, without taking into view 
srn}' other production, in the event of a war between France 
and England, must strike every political and mercantile man, 
as an immense affair ; when also it is taken into view, that 
in addition to th products of Russia, which may be receiv- 
ed as returns, those of other nations can reach us in the 
same way. These remarks may be extended to any length ; 
but it is deem,ed unnecessary ; the intelligent planter, the ex- 
perienced farmer, the calculating and enterprising merchant, 
the industrious manufacturer can and will, from viewing the 
subject, form his own estimate — each and all may be refer- 
red to mar.y interesting and well written publications on these 
affairs, to Major Noah's travels, and for a full and complete 
account of these countries to **a Memoir on the commerce 
and iiavigation >f the Black Sea, and the trade and maritime 
geography of Turkey and Egypt, in two volumes, illus- 
trated with Charts, by Henrv'A. S Dearborn," Collector 
tor of the port ot Boston, who has with much labor, care and 
intelligence, compiled from various authors, a valuable work, 
to which are annexed accurate Charts of the Mediterranean, 
Archipelago, the sea of Marmora, the Euxine, and the sea of 
Asof. It is imagined from these remarks, added to the re- 
flections, they will cause in the mind of the more judicious 
reader, enough has been said in a commercial view, to show 
the advantages, that may result from a mission to Turkey. 

It now remains to point out those of a political kind, 
which are in the main, consequently deducible from the 
commercial benefits set forth. Therefore very little need be 
hazarded on this head. In a political point of view, a resi- 
dent Minister at Constantinople, would certai:Jv be of infi- 
3 



18 

nite service in ascertaiiurig and ccaimuiiicatiog to bis Gov- 
ernment the various objects and intiigues of the Divan, and 
in frequent instances might prevent coilissions Vvith the Bar- 
bary powers, or in cases of expected, or actual rupture, im- 
mediate intelligence, coukl be conveyed to the commanders 
oi our ships of War in the Mediterranean. 

In fact, while we have Consuls in Algiers, Tunis and 
Tripoli ; we have none at Smyrna, with which place tbere 
is great commercial intercourse, nor an Ambassador at the 
Porte, to which power, all these states are more or less sub- 
servient, at any rate nominally so. 

Another consideration, while Russia, France, England, &c. 
have their subjects in Turkey protected by their respective 
Consuls, and their countries represented by resident Minis- 
ters — American citizens are obliged to put themselves un- 
der the protection of one of these Foreign Agents, or remain 
unprotected; while in reality A nerica herself is without 
representation. By this means England, Russia and France 
are in possession of advantages and information withheld 
from the United Stat'Cs, and solely because her Government 
has not made a commercial treaty with Turkey. 

Ip reverting to the commercial advaiitages to be derived 
from a treaty with the Porte ; it is to be added, the Black 
Sea, once open to the free navigation of the American flag, 
the same productions and manufactured goods of Russia, 
which are now imported from the Baltic, may in as short a 
period, and at all seasons of the year, and with more safety^ 
be procured at Odessa ; and American ships could furnish 
Russia with a great proportion of her Colonial supplies 
through this channel. Also a free intercourse with these 
countries, would afford employment to our carrying vessels, 
in conveying wheat and other grains fronj Odessa, 'f'agon- 
rok. Sec. to the French, Italian and peninsular ports ; from 
whence their voyages could be continued in a variety of di^ 
rections. 

Newport, R. L 1st Nov. 1819. 



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